This week’s picture of the week highlights Heathrow Airport celebrating its 80th anniversary with a giant poem created for passengers flying above the airport.
Gateway to the World, by David Larbi
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has appointed its first ever Poet in Residence as part of celebrations marking the airport’s 80th anniversary, unveiling a large scale poem designed to be viewed only from the air.
Heathrow Poet in Residence anniversary poem
The airport commissioned acclaimed London writer and social media poetry creator David Larbi to produce a special piece reflecting Heathrow’s role as the UK’s gateway to the world since opening in 1946.
Titled “Gateway to the World”, the poem has been laser printed in giant lettering onto a field near the airport using biodegradable paint, making it visible exclusively to passengers travelling above Heathrow.
To develop the project, Larbi was given behind the scenes access to airport operations, speaking with more than 30 employees across multiple departments to understand the stories, people and infrastructure that shape the passenger experience at Heathrow.
Gateway to the World, by David Larbi
Whenever I’m going to take a flight
I know the conditions are always right
The airport is where possibility lives
I can feel the whole world at my fingertips!
It is where the journey ends and begins
Where terminals, towers and workers are linked
To make sure that above, and on the ground
Each passenger is always safe and sound!
There’s a reason that millions of passengers
On the best and worst days of their lives
Pass through Heathrow in safety and comfort
Trusting that they are safe, here, to fly!
This is a place where we’re more than allowed
To have our heads up in the clouds
It’s truly special, every time we fly
To leave the ground and touch the sky!
Famous, low-key, frequent or rare
However, whenever you take to the air
For eighty years, and for many more
The gateway to the world is these airport doors!
The resulting poem reflects on the emotional significance of air travel, from reunions and departures to the operational work required to safely connect millions of passengers each year.
David Larbi said: “The best thing about poetry, for me, is bringing people joy and connection - something Heathrow has done in its own way for the past eight decades.”
He added that the poem captures the excitement and wonder of flying alongside the dedication of the people who help Heathrow operate every day.
Thomas Woldbye said: “For 80 years, Heathrow has been the place where journeys begin, where loved ones reunite, and where the UK meets the rest of the world.”
Since opening as London Airport in 1946, Heathrow has grown from handling around 63,000 passengers in its first year to serving more than 84.5 million passengers annually across 230 destinations in over 80 countries.
Over the decades, the airport has played host to defining moments in British aviation history, including the arrival of The Beatles in 1964 and the introduction of Concorde services in 1976.
The Poet in Residence project forms part of a wider anniversary programme featuring archive exhibitions, themed retail promotions and passenger competitions celebrating Heathrow’s eight decades of global connectivity.
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